benjamin



3 sheets-sheet 1.

(N0 Model.) l

` P. L. BENJAMIN.

FLAX PULLER.

No. 521927. Patented June 26,1894.

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7 7 per, fg am O* m dn JZZOr/zgs (No Model.) 3 sheets-sheen 2; P. L. BENJAMIN.

FLAX FULLER.

No. 521,927. Patented Juney 26, 1894.

(No Model.) 3 Sheets-Sheet 3.

P. L. BENJAMIN.

FLAX FULLER, A

No. 521,927. Patented June 26, 1894.

UNITED STATES PATENT Ormes.

FREDERICK L. BENJAMIN, OF S'I. PAUL, MINNESOTA, ASSIGNOR, BY MESNE ASSIGNMENTS, TO LUCIUS P. ORDWAY, OF SAME PLACE.

'y FLAx-PULLER.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 521,927, dated J' une 26, 1894.

- Application filed November 12, 1891. Serial No. 411,662. (No model.)

To all whom t may concern,.-

Be it known that I, FREDERICK L. BENJA- MIN, of St. Paul, Ramsey county, Minnesota, have invented certain Improvements in Flax- Pullers, of which the-following is a specification.

My invention relates to flax pulling machines, especially that type'in which the flax is pulled from the ground by means of a reel having clamping wings adapted to engage the tops of the dax as driven by the forward movement of the machine, and to pull it from the ground and carry it backward and deposit it v upon the carrier of the machine; and consists in an improved construction of the clamping members or wings of the reel and means for operating the same, and in means for automatically thrusting the iiax out of the clamps .when released by the opening of the clamps;

and also means for raising and lowering the reel to adjust it to dierent heights of flax.

My invention further consists in the construction and combination hereinafter described and particularly pointed out in the claims.

In the accompanying drawings forming part of this-specification, Figure 1 is a side elevation of my improved iiax puller showing the means for raising and lowering the reel, and thev relative arrangement of the wings -upon the reel, and the means for forcing the t IiaX out of the clamps when their grip is released. Fig. 2 is a partial front elevation of the same, showing'the connections for driving the reel from the drive wheel of the machine. Fig. 3 is a detail, partial end elevation of thetreel, the cam being removed, showing the'method of adjustably securing the fixed wings, and the arrangement of the hinged wings. Fig.4 is a detail of the cam for operating the hinged Wings. Fig. 5 is a detail of one of the arms of one of `the hinged wings, and a portion of the connecting angle bar, and Fig. 6 is a detail of the Winding drum shaft for raising and lowering the reel. V

- In the drawings, 2 represents the frame of the machine, which is of the type of an ordi' the standards 7, connected at the bottom to lthe frame 2, and having the braces 8. The

reel shaft 9 is journaled at each end in the cam plates 10, which are fitted with guides 11 for engaging and supporting the same upon the standards 7, the whole being suspended by means of chains or cables 12 connected to saidbearings, and running over sheaves 13 journaled at the top of the standards 7, thence downward, and over the drums or sheaves 14 at the bottom of the braces 8. The sheaves 14 are secured rigidly upon the shaft 15, also provided with the drum16, upon which is secured and adapted to be wound the chain or cable 17 in a reverse direction from the windings of the chains 12 upon the sheaves 14. The chain17 is connected to the fulcrum end of the lever 18, which is pivoted to the frame of the machine, and is preferably'provided with a segmental gear or ratchet 19, withwhich a dog 2O controlled by the auxiliary' handle 21 is adapted to engage to lock the 1ever in adjusted positions; the lever being placed in convenient position to the operator when in the seat 22.

The reel shaft 9 is driven from the shaft shaft by means of the intermediate or'coup-v ling shaft 29, having universal joint connections 30 and 31 with said shafts. Y

32 and 33 are intermeshing gears upon the carrier shafts 34 and 35, for driving carriers or belts,'as inthe ordinary construction of harvester, but form no part of my present in vention.

Secured to each end of the shaft 9 next the cams 10, are the rings or disks 36 to which are adj ustably secured the 'arms 38 of the fixed wings A of the reel. The adj ustmentis made by means of a slot 39 .through vwhich passes the securing screw or bolt 40,'into thedisk or ring, so that the length of the arm or wings may be radially adjusted. The wings are secured to each other and stayed by means of the ring 41 concentric with the shaft, to which the wingarms are secured by means of the screws 42 passing through the slots 43 in the IOO arms. The rings 41 are also provided with` suitable bearings 44 to receive the journals 45 of the arms 46, of the hinged wings B. To the outer end of the journals 45 are connected the cranks 47, the crank pins48 of which are provided preferably with anti-friction rolls 49, running in the groove or guide 50 of the cam o1' eccentric 10. The cross bars 51 of the fixed wings, are made of V shaped angle iron to fit the angle irons of the iixed wings, and are preferably provided with reverse angles 52 to overlap and bear upon the edges of the angle irons 51, so as to increase their clamping power or grip.

The groove of the cam or eccentric 10 is such that each wing B is held against the adjacent rear fixed wing, through the upper arc of rotation, but is turned on its hinge to close it against the adjacent forward fixed wing, with the angle irons of the wings in engagement with each other, during the lower arc of rotation, the relative positions of the Wings being clearly indicated in Fig. l at different points in the path of rotation of the reel.

In order to hold the hinged Wings against the xed wings with elastic pressure, and to adapt them to different quantities of iiax, I arrange in the cani, spring controlled sliding blocks 54 and 55 which serve as the inner wall of the groove 50, through the arc of rotation of the reel when the clamps are closed. These blocks are held preferably by suitable guides 56 and 57, and the screw 58 from displacement, and are actuated or thrust forward by means of springs 59 and G0, surrounding the pins or shafts 61, which slide in the guide G2. The hinged wings are journaled preferably much closer to the iixed wings in their rear, than to those in front, so as to get a better clam ping action when closed against the forward wings, and so that when open, the hinged wings shall project beyond the iixed wings, as shown in Fig. l.

In order to secure a quick closing action of the hinged Wings, I provide an inner angle G4 in the groove 50, at the point where the hinged wing is to close, the inner wall of the groove at this point being preferably removed, as shown in Fig. 4. In order to carry the crank around the angle G4 quickly, so that it will be held in the groove between the block 54 and the outer wallof the groove, I provide spiral springs 65 connecting the arms of the hinged wings with i the arms of the fixed wings immediately forward, so that as soon as the crank pins of a hinged wing reach the angle, the spring acts to throw the wing forward and carry the crank pin along close to the outer wall 53 of the groove. The shape of the groove next the blocks 54 and 55 is an arc of a circle having its center at the axis of the shaft 9, so that the wings are clamped together with uniform pressure while passing through this arc, the length of the arc determining the distance through which the wings move in closed position. In order to throw the ilax out of the clamp when it is released from the pressure by the opening of the wings, I provide a clearer Cin the form of a bail or sliding wing, the arms 67 of which are held in guides G8 upon the arms of the hinged wings. These arms are provided with spiral springs 69 which tend to slide the bail outward upon the wing, so that its cross bar 70 projects some inches beyond the cross bar of the wing. The inner ends of the arms G7 are bent Outward and inturned, as best shown in Fig. 2, the tips of the arms being arranged to slide in the eccentric groove 71, upon the outer face of the cam 10. This groove holds the bails through the greater part of the arc of rotation of the reel drawn inward, as shown clearly in Fig. 1, but at the point where the wings open, the outer wall 72 of the groove 7l is carried outward as shown, thus permitting the springs to act to carry the bail outward. The cross bar of the bail being arranged to pass close to the cross bar of' the wing will strike against the flax which has been clamped between the wings, and throw it oif and cause it to fall flat upon the carrier of the machine. With the continued rotation of the reel, the bailis drawn inward as the wall 72 approaches the axis of the reel. To adjust the length 0f the connecting shaft 29 to the varying heights of the reel, I prefer to form the shaft with a narrowed square neck 73 which slides freely in the corresponding socket in the part 74 connected to the universal joint 30.

Operation: The lever 18 is adjusted in position to support the reel at the desired height, according to the size of the iiax to be harvested. The machine then being drawn forward, the reel is rotated by the described connections with the driving wheel. The hinged wings of the reel rest against the fixed wings in the reel until they have descended into the heads of the iiax and the crank pins reach the angle 64 of the cam, when the springs 65 act to swing the hinged wings forward against the fixed wings the crank pins passing around in the grooves outside thc blocks 54 and 55, and holding the hinged wings with spring pressure against the fixed wings, thus clamping the tops of the liax, and with the rotation of the reel pulling the plants from the ground and carrying them back over the carrier 5 upon the machine. The crank pins then successively pass around the end of the blocks 55, and approaching the center of the axis of the reel turn the hinged wings backward again, and away from the fixed wings, against which they have been clamped, releasing the iiax. At the same instant the bails C are thrust outward by means of their springs, the cross bars 70 thrusting the flax heads olf from the cross bar of the wing, and causing them to fall Hat upon the carrier 5, whence they are delivered in the ordinary manner to the bundling shelf.

I claim 1. In a device of the class described, the combination with the reel, of the fixed wings and the alternating hinged Wings having intermeshing angle-iron ycross bars, and means for clamping `the same together4 through a predetermined arc of their rotation, substantially as described.

2. In a device ot the class described, the combination with the rotating clamps, of meshing angle iron jawsfor the clamp members, substantially as described.

3. In a device of the class described, the combination with the reelhaving iixed wings and alternating, clamping hinged wings, of

the V shaped cross bars for said ixed wings, and the angle iron cross bars for the hinged wings adapted to mesh therewith in the closing of the wings, substantially as described.

' et. In a device of the class described, the combination of' the fixed wings of the reel, haVingV shaped angle iron cross bars, the hinged wings alternating with said fixed wings having angle iron cross bars adapted to lit to the cross bars of the fixed wings and overlap the edges thereof, and means for automatically opening and closing said wings through predetermined arcs of their rotation, substantially as described.

5. In a device of the class described, having a reel provided with a series of fixed wings, and a series of alternating hinged wings, the combination therewith of cranks upon said hinged wings, cams engaging said cranks and serving to turn said hinged Wingsto and from the adjacent fixed wings through predetermined arcs of their rotation, and spring controlled pressure blocks, serving as the walls of the'cams against which said cranks bear while said wings are'clamped together, substantially as described.

6. The combination with the reel having the series of xed wings and the series of altern ating hinged wings provided withcranks, of eccentric grooves engaging the pins of said cranks, and closing said hinged wings against the fixed wings through a predetermined arc of rotation, sectional sliding inner walls for said grooves, andsprings thrusting said sections outward so as to hold said hinged wings with elastic pressure against the fixed wings, substantially as described.

7. In adevice of the class described, the combination with the reel having ,a series of clamps operative through a predetermined arc of its rotation, ot spring actuated clearers working between the jaws of the clamps simultaneously with their opening movement, substantially as described. Y I

8. In a device of the class described, the

l combination withy the kpulling reel, having a series of clamping wings, of clearersreciproeating between the clamp members, springs for thrusting said clearers outward beyond thejaws of the clamps, and means for holding said clearers drawn inward against the tension of said springs, while said clamps are closed, substantially as described.

9. In a ilax pulling reel, having a series of clamping wings, the combination therewith i of a bar arranged between each pair of wings ot their rotation, a sliding bail or wing intermediate of each of said fixed and hinged wings, means for normally holding it indrawn .from 4the cross bars of said wings, while the same lare closed together, and means for automatically thrusting the bail outward beyond said cross bars, simultaneously with the opening of said wings, substantially as described.

11. In a flax pulling reel, Ythe combination with the clamping wings, of the sliding wing between the same, the cam guides engaging said sliding wing, and the springs tending to thrust the same outward, substantially as described? 12. In a Iiax pulling reel, the combination with the clamping wings,'of a clearer sliding between each pair of clamps, means for normally holding it inward from the clamp jaws, and automatic means for thrusting it outward between said jaws simultaneously with their i opening, substantially as described.

13. In a device of the class described, the combination with the reel, its xed wings, its intermediate hinged wings provided with ICO cranks, and the eccentric guides engaging said cranks, of the clearers slidable upon said hinged wings to and from the axis of the reel,`

the springs tending to thrust said clearers Y outward beyond the cross bars of said wings, and the eccentric guides engaging said clearers and holding them against the tension of 'said springs, substantially as described. 

